Natural Progesterone in the UK?

by Lindsay Smith
(UK)

I suffered from terrible post natal depression and anxiety after my first child. I am trying to conceive my second but am seriously worried about the return of pnd.

I live in the UK and natural progesterone isn't as readily availble as it is in the US or indeed recognised as a solution to pnd. The doctors simply prescribe the contraceptive pill for any hormonal imbalance and of course this is synthetic progesterone. I have discussed this with my consultant who claims its not recognised by the British medical council so cannot be perscribed.

I am happy to use the Natpro cream and have found it beneficial with my pms and anxiety before my period. Will this be enough to prevent pnd? Can you give me any suggestions on how to use the cream through pregnancy (I did also suffer awful morning sickness for the first 4 months), how much to use and when and also after the birth?

Is there anyone I can contact in the UK that would prescribe natural progesterone for me? Or if I can obtain the suppositories online? Many thanks.

Comments for Natural Progesterone in the UK?

Hi Lindsay I suffered from PND too, so know what you went through. In fact I never had another child because of this experience! Progesterone does indeed help, Dr Dalton used it for her patients with PND very successfully. The amount depends on the severity, for instance she would give up to 2400mg/day for post natal psychosis. Obviously the idea is to prevent something like this occurring, because once started it requires far higher amounts than if used as a preventative. The same applies to hyperemesis too, once started I've found at least 330mg/day progesterone is needed to stop the nausea. Even then it can take two months before it calms down. I'm puzzled you say the BMC doesn't recognise it, Dr Dalton used Cyclogest suppositories in the late 40's, early 50's, 60 years ago! See Cyclogest info and Actavis UK Ltd Clyclogest. I've used suppositories before, and must confess to far preferring the cream, I've found it works as well too. One advantage it can be applied anywhere, for more info on delivery systems, please see our page on Progesterone application methods. I've helped women with recurrent miscarriages, mild nausea, hyperemesis and PND using the cream. The other advantage to the cream is ease of use. If symptoms are mild less is needed, if severe more can be applied. I've found with severe symptoms from any cause, it's best to use it hourly. It is possible of course that the PND will not recur. Dalton studied this in depth and found no pattern, even in women with multiple pregnancies. Please read through our page on Pregnancy, it gives info on how and when to use progesterone. Please see this link too, Dr Dalton wrote an excellent book on PND, well worth getting. Please consider taking these nutrients, all vital for a developing foetus. Taurine, seehere,here and here. Vitamin D, see here, and here. And Omega 3, see here. Take care Wray

Oct 31, 2010

Natpro in UKby: Linda Otley

Dear Lindsay, You can purchase Natpro in the UK - log on to http://buynaturalprogesterone.co.uk/.

I order 3 months supply at a time and they deliver to my home address (Highlands of Scotland) in 2-3 working days.

Kind regardsLinda

Nov 03, 2010

Natpro in UK by: Wray

Hi Linda Thanks for giving Lindsay this link, Jean is very prompt over getting orders out. Take care Wray

Nov 03, 2010

is the cream enough?by: Lindsay

Hi Wray, thanks for your comments. So you believe I could self treat myself using the Natpro cream only? Throughout pregnancy and after the birth? Or should I stop using the cream at month 4 until after the birth? Surely using the cream through pregnancy would mean I would have to increase the amount used after the birth as the progesterone levels fall?

I am a little confused to how much Natpro I should be using, can you advise in terms of how much cream I should use in say teaspoons?

Many thanks, againLindsay

Nov 07, 2010

is the cream enough? by: Wray

Hi Lindsay Unless you can find a doctor sympathetic to the use of progesterone during pregnancy, you will have to treat yourself. Fertility specialists use it after an IVF procedure, and some obgyns use it if patients experience recurrent miscarriages. But a woman from Scotland has just written saying she's had 15 miscarriages in the last 6 years, and no one knows why, as all tests were 'normal'! I do give advice on how much to use during Pregnancy. But as you've had hyperemesis before, I suggest starting with 200mg/day, which is 6ml (1 1/5 tsp) of cream. A kitchen measuring spoon is fine, the amount doesn't have to be exact. But please start before you fall pregnant. If you feel fine by the third or fourth month, you can reduce the amount, but do so very gradually. Dr Dalton often kept her patients on the progesterone throughout pregnancy, there's no harm done. In fact she found her 'progesterone babies' as she called them, were more intelligent. On the other link I gave you Dr Dalton says...... "After the baby has been safely delivered, the mother should be given the first of seven daily progesterone injections: of 100 mg followed by 400 mg progesterone suppositories twice daily for the next two months or until normal menstruation returns." I feel the injections are an unnecessary pain, and would suggest the cream. Some can be used in the vagina too, as it reaches the uterus within minutes, see here. But would recommend 200mg/day, as Dalton says, starting after delivery. But keep a look out for symptoms of PND, if they should occur then increase the amount you are using until they go. It can be used hourly too, it keeps the level topped up. Interestingly enough my first symptom was unstable blood glucose, I was so hungry. Progesterone does help stabilise it, oestrogen causes it. The next symptom I had was tiredness, which went on to develop into exhaustion. I don't recall ever having 'depression', but had terrible rages. If you recall what your first symptoms were, you'll know you'll need to increase the progesterone the moment you feel them. Each ml of cream contains 33.3mg progesterone. Take care Wray

Aug 22, 2014

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Apr 02, 2018

Hair Lossby: Susan

HiMy hair started shedding approx 8 years ago (I am 50 this year). I have used lasers and Minoxidl and although my hair starts to come back, it quickly sheds again.

My periods stopped 3 months ago and I started to get terrible night sweats at the same time. After completing some research, I commenced progesterone cream. (Been taking this for 3 weeks now). My night sweats stopped almost immediately but my hair is still shedding and today I have started to bleed again. I am really concerned that I can now see my scalp (I used to have very thick hair).

I have also started with lower back pain and a dragging in the lower stomach (period symptoms I used to have as a teenager) I have looked at my cream (serenity) and it says 5ml per spoonful and I take 1/8 of a spoon. Looking at your previous comments, it looks like this is not enough for me? (Although my night sweats have gone?) if I need a higher strength cream, where can I purchase this?

Also, I have been told that I am vitamin D deficient (47 nmol/L) but this was tested after I came back from a holiday in Egypt where I had diarrhoea for 5 days, so I’m not sure if this affected the results.

I hope you can help.Thank you

Apr 03, 2018

Hair Lossby: Joy

Hi Susan

There are a number of things that can cause hair loss such as stress, medications, thyroid problems.

Progesterone does clear out the estrogen lining in the uterus which could explain the sudden bleed. It can cause strange things to happen. You are not using enough progesterone cream, between 100-200mg Natpro Progesterone cream is needed, 200mg equates to 6ml, or a slightly heaped teaspoon. You can order on this link https://www.progesteronetherapy.com/progesterone-cream-dispenser.html or https://buynaturalprogesterone.wordpress.com/tag/natpro-progesterone-cream-uk/ Progesterone therapy is not an overnight fix, it can take 2-6 months. It should also be used no less than twice a day. Half in the morning and the other half at night.

Your Vitamin D3 level is very low, it should be between 175-250 nmol/L a deficiency will reduce the benefits of progesterone.

Please read these pages.

How to use Progesterone Cream - https://www.progesteronetherapy.com/how-to-use-progesterone-cream.html

Thank you for your response and the helpful links Joy, it is very much appreciated. I will start to up the dose of cream.

Can I ask, do I take 100-200mg for a certain period of time and then reduce it or do I continue with this dosage? Also, as I have had this bleed, I am not sure when to start the cream again and how many days I should take it for before having a break?

I am also thinking of taking Saw Palmetto alongside the cream as I believe this will further assist in decreasing hair shedding.

Apr 05, 2018

Hair Lossby: Joy

Hi Susan

As mentioned, it can take 2-6 months for the body to adjust. Progesterone does disrupt the cycle when first used. I suggest that you use every day until your body adjusts and your regular cycle returns to normal. Try 100mg, if that doesn't work, use 200mg. Once your cycle returns to normal use the cream at your luteal phase as explained on the How to use Progesterone Cream page.

Luteal phase - starts from ovulation until bleeding. It is always, in all women, 12-14 days long. Progesterone is used during this luteal phase.

Although this web site is not intended to be prescriptive, it is intended, and hoped, that it will induce in you a sufficient level of scepticism about some health care practices to impel you to seek out medical advice that is not captive to purely commercial interests, or blinded by academic and institutional hubris. You are encouraged to refer any health problem to a health care practitioner and, in reference to any information contained in this web site, preferably one with specific knowledge of progesterone therapy.